Stabbing city’s sixth homicide of 2004

A 19-year-old Clovis man was stabbed to death at 201 Pinon Street about 12:45 p.m. Monday, Clovis police said.

Victor Estrada, father of a 5-week-old daughter, died after being transported by private vehicle to Plains Regional Medical Center, his relatives said.

“All that I know at this point is we had officers up there (at the hospital) on a separate call; the victim was brought to the hospital and the officers took it from there,” Police Chief Bill Carey said. “These people knew each other, as in most homicides.”

Police said Joel A. Cordova, 24, of Clovis has been arrested and charged with an open count of murder in connection with the case.

Carey said investigators haven’t yet determined how Cordova and Estrada came in contact with each other. Cordova was still being questioned Monday evening, according to jail administrator Don Burdine.

Carey said the slaying was the sixth so far this year in Clovis.

No official report was available from police or jail officials late Monday evening.

Carey said that while daytime homicides are unusual, they’ve happened before in Clovis.

“You never know when there is going to be a homicide and there’s usually no way to guard against it,” Carey said.

Nina Sanchez, the mother of Estrada’s daughter Alliana, said Estrada loved children. Estrada had taken a job with B&K Custodial Services in Colorado last fall, but returned two months ago to be with Sanchez as their child was born.

“I wanted him to be here for his daughter; I was excited to show him the ultrasounds when he came,” Sanchez said. “He was real playful with the kids, he liked to make them laugh, but with the baby he was real protective and careful with her.”

In addition to his daughter, Estrada is survived by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.
One of Estrada’s sisters-in-law, Stephanie Estrada, said her husband’s youngest brother was fun to be around.

“He was a pretty good kid, a hard worker,” she said. “Anytime you needed something done, he would be the first person to call. He did a lot of lawn mowing for people.”
“He was hilarious, always telling jokes, he liked playing basketball with his friends and brothers,” she said. “He was real funny; it felt good to be around him.”

Sanchez and Stephanie Estrada both said Victor Estrada did not live at the home where the stabbing occurred and they didn’t know why he was on Pinon Street. They said they had never met Joel Cordova.

“I never heard of him, but that doesn’t mean Victor didn’t,” Sanchez said. “Victor knew a lot of people.”

Sanchez said she wasn’t able to see Victor Estrada in the hospital before he died since he died shortly after arriving at Plains Regional Medical Center.

“It hasn’t hit us yet, but I’m sure tomorrow or the day after it will,” Sanchez said. “I just can’t believe this happened.”